00080671 5-1723-149 UNCLASSIFIED 2430695 12-01-1942 2431683 08-15-1945

GROUP/0078/FIGHTER

GP-78-HI 0000001265 B0161 1052 1212 160 35 2445987 10-13-1984 HISTORY IS INCLUDED COVERING PERIOD FROM ARRIVAL OF GROUP IN ENGLAND TO V-J DAY. GROUP ARRIVED IN ENGLAND, EQUIPPED WITH P-38 AIRCRAFT, 1 DEC 42. GROUP'S P-38 AIRCRAFT AND PILOTS TRANSFERRED TO NORTH AFRICA AND REPLACED WITH P-47 AIRCRAFT IN FEB 43. ORIGINALLY STATIONED AT GOXHILL, ENGLAND, GROUP MOVED TO DUXFORD, ENGLAND APR 43. FIRST COMBAT MISSIONS APR 43. MISSIONS PRIMARILY BOMBER ECORT. FIGHTER SWEEPS AND LONG RANGE MISSIONS BEGIN JUL 43. FIRST AMERICAN "ACE" AND FIRST AMERICAN "TRIPLE" ACHIEVED BY MEMBERS OF GROUP. IN JAN 44 GROUP UNDERTOOK ITS FIRST FIGHTER BOMBER MISSIONS. GROUP PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS OVERLORD AND MARKET. DEC 44, GROUP EQUIPPED WITH P-51 AIRCRAFT. LAST COMBAT MISSION FLOWN 25 APR 45. NONE DUXFORD DIARY PRESENTATION BOOK CONTAINING NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS AND SEVERAL SPECIAL NARRATIVES DETAILING LIFE AND OPERATIONS AT DUXFORD, ENGLAND.